New stuff Friday ...

[gazinwales]

Amorphis 'The Moon'
Superb as always and a lot more proggy than most lead singles from previous forthcoming albums.
https://youtu.be/EU5A5nqojYo

[gazinwales]

Blind Guardian never disappoint and here's their new single:
Deliver Us From Evil
https://youtu.be/d1mkqz422lg

[introclaus]

Been a while since I posted on this thread, but life's been busy lately ... work etc.

IRON FATE - Crimson Messiah
This one came out today and it's pretty awesome if you like power and "prog" metal of the old guard. Think Jag Panzer meets Crimson Glory ... There's nothing "new" to it, but it's super well done, and the vocalist has the pipes for it.
https://youtu.be/pgTBOi5ecvo (this is a 10 minute epic that sounds like classic Queensryche mixed with Crimson Glory)

[Hearing Aid Man]

Checking out the Iron Fate samples. This sounds like my kinda singer. Definitely will be checking this out further.

[introclaus]

Checking out the Iron Fate samples. This sounds like my kinda singer. Definitely will be checking this out further.

Yes he is very good. In places he sounds like a young Tate or Midnight, some places like Conklin (who actually guests on a song) and I even hear a bit of Biff Byford.

I took the album on my run this morning and it’s perfect for that. Lots of up tempo material and then that 10 minute epic in the middle. There’s a bonus track on the album as well which is a cover of “Lost Forever” (Sabbath’s Tony Martin era).

[introclaus]

The first few 2022 albums:

JETHRO TULL - The Zealot Gene
I've been a fan of this band as long as i can remember - probably from first time I heard Aqualung back in the 70s. TZG is their first studio album of original material since J-Tull.Com (1999) so a lot of water has run under the bridge since then; In fact, only Ian is left in the band these days, so there's that!?! Either way, it sounds like Jethro Tull and I'm digging this.
https://youtu.be/1APwlHY50vo

FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY - Oh What the Future Holds
Normally I wouldn't be picking up a deathcore album unless it was super proggy, but there was something about the singles for this album that kept pulling me back. I purchased the album and have already gone through it 5 times in a row and loving it. By far the best deathcore album I've ever bought LOL. Very melodic for the style and occasional it ventures into some tech/prog territory which suits music very well.
https://youtu.be/i3iWnhd7FMw

MUSE - Won't Stand Down - single
First single for upcoming Muse album. It's quite a bit more rocking that both "Drones" and "Simulation Theory" (almost has a metalcore breakdown section in it), which isn't a bad thing. After last years boring solo album from Matt it's nice to hear that he hasn't forgotten how to write great tunes.
https://youtu.be/d55ELY17CFM

DEAD LORD - Sleeping My Day Away - single
Swedish retro hard rock band with a cover version of Disneyland After Dark (D-A-D)'s hit single from 1989, making it sound like a long lost Thin Lizzy tune. Pretty remarkable. I wonder if entire "Dystopia" EP that this is a precursor for will be cover tunes?
https://youtu.be/dK3_xir0hBo

AT THE MOVIES = Soundtrack of Your Life, Vol 1 and Vol 2
Yeah I had to buy these. It's totally cliche and bad taste, but so what? Taking all these 80s and 90s movie soundtrack singles and giving them a hard rock spin, with the guys from Pretty Maids, Hammerfall, The Night Flight Orchestra, Royal Hunt and King Diamond at the helm ... I mean ... where do I even begin?
https://youtu.be/j9O-wya_0N8
https://youtu.be/lMTNXC9oqto

I also ended up buying a lot of albums I missed in 2021 based off of recommendations and year-end-lists:

• motorjesus, desecrator, warkings, manimal (thanks Guillaume)

• home style surgery, deviant process (thanks John)

• wardrum (various year-end-lists had this one on it, so i checked it out and REALLY enjoy it)

Things I'm looking forward to in the coming months;
Knight Area - D-Day 2. All the singles so far has been stellar. I really enjoyed the last album and found it a big step forward for the band. New stuff sounds just as good based on the 3 songs released thus far.
Hath - All that was Promised. Technical death metal with awesome melodies. Can't wait for this one. First song "Kenosis" is killer.
Gazpacho - Fireworking at St. Croix. Live album by one of the really underrated prog rock bands of our time.
Star Eternal - Atlas. I've been working on the design for this Australian band lately and they sent me the rough mix of their album, and it really surprised me how good it is. Quality power/prog with great melodies. Including guest performances by Ripper Owens, Danny Cecati, Jennifer Borg, etc.
Ten - Here Be Monsters. Fan boy alert - Anything Ten is great! First two singles obviously are brilliant.
Coheed & Cambria - Vaxis II. Both singles so far are great.
Amorphis - Halo. I enjoyed the first single.
Destruction - Diabolical. I enjoyed the first single.
Persefone - Metanoia. I already have listened to this 10+ times and enjoy it tremendously. That said, it's a step towards the more laid-back side of things (almost like Leprous), except a few places where they really let it rip. This will end up high on my list at the end of the year.
Voivod - Synchro Anarchy. DUH!
oh and ..
Port Noir. One single out so far, and it's obviously AotY contender

[Mardoch]

I'm with you on the Persefone. I'm really looking forward to that.

[introclaus]

HANGING GARDEN - Neither Moth not Rust (EP)
This will take some time to get into - it's very "non-doomy" for a band that originates from that scene. I loved their last two albums, so I'm sure this one will hit the same spot eventually, but it'll take some time getting used to as it's quite poppy.
https://youtu.be/QxOA21Q-LwE

ALLEGAEON - Of Beasts and Worms
Second single from upcoming album. They are still tech-death when they want to, but there's a lot of groove and a whole lot of melo-death to it as well.
https://youtu.be/PFNGAcYibSI

IBARAKI - Tamashii No Houkai
First single from Matt Heafy's solo "black metal" project. This definitely doesn't sound like his main band (Trivium), but it's not quite "trve black" either as it was rumored to be. I'd label it prog-black for now based on this song. Ihsahn guests on it, so it has a touch of his unique sound to it of course. I'm impressed and now I want a full album instead of just a single.
https://youtu.be/dLbzLG5p9Vs

SOEN - Igniter
This was released earlier in the week and is only available through the band themselves. You pay $5 or more for one song, so it's only for the hardcore fans, but it's a great song, and I love helping out this band.
https://youtu.be/tzc4vSruP_s

SLEEPWULF - Stoned Ape
Based on the three singles released so far (Stoned Ape is the latest), the second album ("Sunbeams Curl") from Swedish retro-doom rockers Sleepwulf will be killer. It's old school doom (Pentagram, Black Sabbath, St Vitus) mixed with some earthy retro hard rock (Graveyard, Hexvessel) and a bit of old folksy prog (Jethro Tull).
https://youtu.be/JvmJ_zHPK0w

I dismissed Battle Beasts (I am camp Beast in Black, Yannis is just such a great vocalist and Noora gets on my nerves quickly), Setyøursails (it's okay melo-metalcore, and the female singer is a nice touch, but it becomes too light in the loafers after a while), Kreator (do we really need a raw-sounding live album from their Violent Revolution days?), new Ghost (so far the two singles seem less than expected quality wise, but I'm sure I'll pick up the album when its released) and a few others that I don't even remember...

So far the year is shaping up great.
I've spent quite some time this week with the new Dark Millennium which definitely will make it onto my list. Progressive doom-death for the win!
Also been listening a ton to the new Voivod, which will be fighting with Port Noir for the #1 spot once 2022 is done, unless something comes from out-of-left-field and surprises me.

-- -- --

EDIT:

RIVERWOOD - Shadows & Flames
I almost forgot about this one - Glenn messaged me about it earlier in the week as he knew I'd like this, so I went on bandcamp and purchased (hence why I forgot it, as I still haven't added it to my iTunes list). Egyptian band ... that's gotta be a first! There's some Kamelot, some Epica, some Myrath, some Orphaned Land, some Amaseffer, some Ostura, some Symphony X, and so forth ... middle eastern tinged power/prog of the symphonic sort!
https://youtu.be/1fGaKcIppv0

[gazinwales]

The Halo Effect - Feel What I Believe
https://youtu.be/N7shmyN2gII

Now this is more like it, classic Gothenburg MDM sound!

[introclaus]

The Halo Effect - Feel What I Believe
https://youtu.be/N7shmyN2gII

Now this is more like it, classic Gothenburg MDM sound!

Yes, way more impressed by this than the first single.

In that style, I'm pessimistically optimistic about the new Eucharist album, which will be their first since "Mirrorworlds" (1997). Not sure how it'll go over with only Markus Johnsson left in the band, but we'll see. So far the two singles are more ferocious and "black" than I had expected, but still has lots of that classic melo-death style to it. Just the fact that here 25 years later we're getting more material from Markus is impressive, so there's that.

[gazinwales]

Yes definitely better than the 'average' first single.
Inspired me to play 'Colony' for the first time in many years.
So refreshing to hear those ferocious guitars, massive drums, screams, metal as it was and sadly thanks to 'modern'
productions, brick walled pro tools, compression and generally terrible sounding albums...

[introclaus]

New singles:

VOIVOD - Synchro Anarchy
Third single from upcoming album. Entire album is flat out amazing. As I've already said a few times, I'm finding it difficult imagining anything (besides possible Port Noir) beating this once 2022 is through. Progressive thrash metal!
https://youtu.be/hryt9k8Zql8

HÄLLAS - Earl's Theme / Stygian Depths
Two singles from upcoming "Isle of Wisdom" album. Their last two albums both ended up in my top 10 of their respective release years (2020 and 2017) so expectations to this one are quite high to say the least. These tunes are what I expected / hoped for, so I'm very optimistically looking forward to the full album. Retro hard rock with a prog/space-rock edge.
https://youtu.be/j4dfWfN8--U

SHINING - KMA
There was a time when this band was a black metal band that incorporated saxophone. They then became a progressive black metal band with equal parts jazz music. Then they became more of a prog alternative rock band. And now? Well ... hmmm ... blackened dance/techno? I honestly don't hear much black metal in it anymore, but this song (along with the previous few singles) are glorious in their own right. This band is so unique and different, that it's probably a love/hate it thing, where most metal fans will choose the "hate" part. I don't care, as I'm in the "love it" camp. Oh, and the song has the amazing literary masterpiece of a chorus:
Kiss my ass
Suck my nuts
It's all or nothing
Eat my dust
https://youtu.be/Y5978-KM4mQ

HATH - Lithopaedic
Second single from upcoming album. The more I listen to it, the more I'm beginning to think that this is my most anticipated tech-death metal release of 2022. These guys were like a really dark and technical version of old school Opeth on their previous album, but this has gone even darker and even more technical. Perhaps a bit like Slugdge but with a cleaner edge (almost in Archspire territory) to it ... and a hint of black metal even.
https://youtu.be/cT6CdYRJmzU

AMORPHIS - On the Dark Waters
Second single here as well from next album. Great stuff and typical later-day Amorphis.
https://youtu.be/T8aH5HVx_0c

ARCHITECTS - Impermanence
Single from their upcoming "For those that wish to exists at Abbey Road", which, as title kind of hints at, is a live version of their entire "For those..." album recorded at Abbey Road Studios with a full symphony orchestra. It sounds crazy to even imagine a metal core band working with a symphony orchestra, but the end result is killer. Breakdowns never sounded as heavy as they do here.
https://youtu.be/QUS-_CaMftE

KNIGHT AREA - The Dream
Yet another single from the upcoming "D-Day 2" album. This is shaping up to be another great album from these neo-prog'ers (even if Larry refuses to give them a fair shot because the original singer left them before the previous album, 2019's "D-Day").
https://youtu.be/vXDKIVx-9vw

[LarryD]

KNIGHT AREA - The Dream
Yet another single from the upcoming "D-Day 2" album. This is shaping up to be another great album from these neo-prog'ers (even if Larry refuses to give them a fair shot because the original singer left them before the previous album, 2019's "D-Day").
https://youtu.be/vXDKIVx-9vw

***Sorry bro --- played that one and it did nothing for me ........ it is a different band now, and not what I want to hear from them .........

[Random Axe]

This new Knight Area I can get into. While Mark was a capable vocalist, he lacked vibrato, depth and the ability to write a chorus or hook. He was far too passive in the compositions, at least what I've heard since their debut. It's pleasant music but nothing more than that for me. Without an emotional element or energy it's kinda flat.

Now, if someone can show me examples otherwise, I'd love to hear them.

[introclaus]

This new Knight Area I can get into. While Mark was a capable vocalist, he lacked vibrato, depth and the ability to write a chorus or hook. He was far too passive in the compositions, at least what I've heard since their debut. It's pleasant music but nothing more than that for me. Without an emotional element or energy it's kinda flat.

Now, if someone can show me examples otherwise, I'd love to hear them.

That's pretty much how I feel as well. I like all their albums to varying degrees, but something was always lacking in Mark's voice ... too laid back and anonymous. The new guy has much more power and sounds like someone who should be all over the Ayreon albums actually.

[introclaus]

Didn't pick up much this week (although I did get the new PERSEFONE album in multiple different versions - digital, CD, vinyl), but overall mostly singles:

KREATOR - Hate Über Alles
First single from upcoming album, and it's just insanely great. Wow. Thrash metal with lots of power and some nice melodic touches in there. Killer solos!
https://youtu.be/YVfEW5mgrd0

CONCEPTION - Monument in Time
Quite an epic tune here, that still fits in well with the last couple of years songwriting from these guys (which was just an extension of the style from "Flow"). Love it!
https://youtu.be/eD59SWXZtJ8

GAZPACHO - Antique
Second single from upcoming live-in-the-studio album of Norway's Muse-copycats. I'm a huge fan of Muse and that was what got me into Gazpacho in the first place, but I really feel that they've become their own little thing now.
https://youtu.be/64N5qaQ7CSo

I checked out the new stuff from Wolf (the single sounds good, but I never felt they've been consistent throughout a full album, so I'm waiting on that one), new Arch Enemy tune (it's ok, but the complete rip off of "As above, so below" from Malmsteen is annoying me), and Saxon's new album (I'll probably pick this up if I see it at my local store).

[gazinwales]

Amorphis - Halo
Been anticipating this for a many months and it's finally dropped.
Suffice to say I am not disappointed, strong songs and an amazingly good sounding album mix/mastering wise.

[introclaus]

Amorphis - Halo
Been anticipating this for a many months and it's finally dropped.
Suffice to say I am not disappointed, strong songs and an amazingly good sounding album mix/mastering wise.

I really like this as well. It's less "proggy" thank some reviews and comments had let is to sound like it was gonna be, but it's very nice. Great balance between the melodic prog-rock, the folky elements and the more "melo-death" style. As with the previous album I feel it has a lot of Orphaned Land similarities; obviously Finnish folk and middle-eastern folk are quite different from each other, but still ...

[introclaus]

Besides the above mentioned AMORPHIS, this week also brought the amazing VOIVOD (which I've already said plenty about) that have album of the year candidate written all over it.

Other stuff:

GIRISH & THE CHRONICLES - Hail to the Heroes
Indian hard rock in the best 80's LA style. This sounds like the album that should have been right in-between "Skid Row" and "Slave to the Grind", pulling on both the melodic stuff from the debut and the powerful balls-to-the-wall heaviness of the follow-up. Girish is an awesome vocalist for this style when he wants to, but sometimes he becomes a bit too unintelligible when puts too much power and grit behind.
https://youtu.be/8TxpsLMrYww

A few singles:

SATAN - Burning Portrait
First single from new album. For now I "like" it, but it seems less focused than the songs on "Cruel Magic" and "Atom to Atom". Hopefully it's just the first single and the rest will be up to the standard we've come to expect from these guys. Always loved their music, so I'm sure this will grow on me.
https://youtu.be/zJwXL7xfGJo

SABATON -The Unkillable Soldier
It's Sabaton, so nothing new here. It's just done really well, and I'm digging it for what it is.
https://youtu.be/b4vj_WB5w_k

PORT NOIR - Sweet & Salt
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is by far the most interesting band to come from the progressive metal scene in recent years. Today there's not much metal left, but it's still amazing, and I must have listened to this single 20 times by now already.
https://youtu.be/qoOK2wqPF_I

[introclaus]

3 new full length albums for me this weekend, and a few singles.

TEN - Here Be Monsters
Gary has really found his mojo again, as "Here Be Monsters" is the best Ten album in ~20 years. This sounds like the perfect mix between "The Robe" and "Babylon" (well, they did release the magnificent "Spellbound" in between those two, but it was quite different than either of those). It's melodic hard rock with lots of "oooooohhh" and "waaaahh" and not very "metal", but it's all the sugar coating that makes this such a pleasant listen.
https://youtu.be/qm2TciaFg5s

STAR ONE - Revel in Time
I'll admit that the first listen didn't sit well with me, but I've been through the album 5 times now and it gets better with each listen. Once again Arjen tends to drown everything in too many different vocalists, which is actually why I love the other Star One albums (only had to focus on 4 singers), and it ends up sounding like just another Ayreon disc, which is a bit of a shame. And honestly, not all the choices are that great; I'm tired of listening to Mike Mills whiny voice on every Arjen disc these days, and why on earth does Ross Jennings has to be pulled in here? He flat out sucks. I bought the 2-disc version, and there are certain songs I prefer from the bonus/alternate album because of the choice of singer. Better than last Ayreon disc for sure, but it's not as amazing as the first 2 Star One albums.
https://youtu.be/-fHN4Qceip4

SLEEPWULF - Sunbeams Curl
Very cool Swedish/Scottish retro hard rock band with quite the occult lyrics to match the dark gloomy atmosphere. Probably nested somewhere between old school Black Sabbath doom, Hexvessel's folksy retro spirit, early Spiritual Beggars fuzzy stoner rock, and a bit of Danzig (used similar as to how Graveyard does it) on top. I've only been able to go through it once so far, but I'm digging this for sure.
https://youtu.be/9hb0A9e6eJk

IBARAKI - Akumu
Second single from Matt Heafy (Trivium) and his new black metal project. This song has Nergal from Behemoth joining in, and while it starts out with some blackened death metal like expected, it takes a few unexpected turns later on.
https://youtu.be/YLDpQ8EnglM

HATH - Name Them Yet Build No Monument
Third single from upcoming Hath album. Like the other two singles so far, this shows a band that really has matured since last album - very clever tech death with lots of groove, nice use of melodies and plenty of brutality.
https://youtu.be/Q7NHKXMFhXY

RONNIE ATKINS - Make it Count
Third single, and title track, from the upcoming second solo release of Pretty Maids vocalist Paul Christensen. This starts out like a ballad and near the halfway mark turns into a great ABBA tribute kind of disco meets pop-rock tune with a superb guitar solo thrown in there.
https://youtu.be/UKCxU_JA-RE

[Mardoch]

STAR ONE - Revel in Time
I'll admit that the first listen didn't sit well with me, but I've been through the album 5 times now and it gets better with each listen. Once again Arjen tends to drown everything in too many different vocalists, which is actually why I love the other Star One albums (only had to focus on 4 singers), and it ends up sounding like just another Ayreon disc, which is a bit of a shame. And honestly, not all the choices are that great; I'm tired of listening to Mike Mills whiny voice on every Arjen disc these days, and why on earth does Ross Jennings has to be pulled in here? He flat out sucks. I bought the 2-disc version, and there are certain songs I prefer from the bonus/alternate album because of the choice of singer. Better than last Ayreon disc for sure, but it's not as amazing as the first 2 Star One albums.
https://youtu.be/-fHN4Qceip4

It's getting hard to get amped about Arjen's releases. I feel bad for saying it, but when he didn't have the budget to be so self-indulgent he produced much better work. I'm listening to the new Star One right now and it's like...it's fine? It feels so predictable, though.

[Mardoch]

Allegaeon - Damnum
https://allegaeon.bandcamp.com/album/damnum

They let more of the jazzy influences into their melodic tech death and holy shit it's great. This album is lifting up this whole decrepit week all on its own. This is a more than worthy successor to Apoptosis. We've got a lot of albums left to come this year, but I have a hard time seeing this not making the top albums of the year list for a ton of folks.

[jhallum]

Kinda surprised I haven't heard more about the new Zeal & Ardor
Zeal & Ardor -- Zeal & Ardor
https://zealandardor.bandcamp.com/album/zeal-ardor-3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5C3XgYVD3U (Golden Liar)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xep_SFdG7mE (Run)

An avant garde blend of blues, industrial/electronic, gospel and black metal, this is one heck of an album to digest. I'm three passes in on this disk, and while it's not the best thing since sliced bread, it's really good. Check it out!

[introclaus]

Allegaeon - Damnum
https://allegaeon.bandcamp.com/album/damnum

They let more of the jazzy influences into their melodic tech death and holy shit it's great. This album is lifting up this whole decrepit week all on its own. This is a more than worthy successor to Apoptosis. We've got a lot of albums left to come this year, but I have a hard time seeing this not making the top albums of the year list for a ton of folks.

I’m really liking this one as well as I expected I would, but not as overwhelmed as you are (yet at least) - interestingly enough I hear a bit (well, quite a lot actually) of classic Into Eternity, which is awesome as they were such an underrated prog-melodeath band when they were at their best. In general I think Allegaeon has brought in a lot of outside influences on this new album which makes it very interesting but also a bit unfocused. One minute it sounds like a specific style of prog or tech death and then the next a different style (still within the genre but …). Perhaps a bit too much of the “kitchen sink method” here?

[introclaus]

Kinda surprised I haven't heard more about the new Zeal & Ardor
Zeal & Ardor -- Zeal & Ardor
https://zealandardor.bandcamp.com/album/zeal-ardor-3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5C3XgYVD3U (Golden Liar)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xep_SFdG7mE (Run)

An avant garde blend of blues, industrial/electronic, gospel and black metal, this is one heck of an album to digest. I'm three passes in on this disk, and while it's not the best thing since sliced bread, it's really good. Check it out!

It’s one of those bands I feel that I should like but I just don’t. Similar to Tool and Devin Townsend in that sense. It just doesn’t work for me. I appreciate what they are doing (or trying to) but it ain’t grabbing me like I think it should.

[Mardoch]

Allegaeon - Damnum
https://allegaeon.bandcamp.com/album/damnum

They let more of the jazzy influences into their melodic tech death and holy shit it's great. This album is lifting up this whole decrepit week all on its own. This is a more than worthy successor to Apoptosis. We've got a lot of albums left to come this year, but I have a hard time seeing this not making the top albums of the year list for a ton of folks.

I’m really liking this one as well as I expected I would, but not as overwhelmed as you are (yet at least) - interestingly enough I hear a bit (well, quite a lot actually) of classic Into Eternity, which is awesome as they were such an underrated prog-melodeath band when they were at their best. In general I think Allegaeon has brought in a lot of outside influences on this new album which makes it very interesting but also a bit unfocused. One minute it sounds like a specific style of prog or tech death and then the next a different style (still within the genre but …). Perhaps a bit too much of the “kitchen sink method” here?

I can see this being a valid criticism, but it's a style that meshes well with me so I'm all for it.

[introclaus]

Quiet week for me:

ALLEGAEON - Damnum
We just talked about that one in the posts above, so no further comments yet
https://youtu.be/DiL-LAwmmFM

ARD - Take Up My Bones
I've spent entire week listening to this (purchased it last Saturday) and I love it completely. It's brilliantly composed and executed music, with a very interesting conceptual "true story"/legend to tell (about how some English saint whose relics were moved around the country to protect them from falling in enemy hands). Musically it's epic doom metal at the backbone; in fact so epic that both DeMaio, Quorthorn and Turilli would have given their left nut to create anything remotely as epic as this. It's full of chants from what sounds like hordes of monks, filled to the brim with atmosphere, and superbly put together both production wise and musical flow. There are hints of celtic folk music, hints of old school doom-death (My Dying Bride, Anathema), tons of epic doom (Scald, Warning), some of the goth-dark metal (Tenhi, Empyrium) which Prophecy Productions is known for, and the end result is quite unique. Definitely Top 10 of the year candidate.
https://youtu.be/Vrf-OidAJqg

IOTUNN - Access All Worlds An Acoustic Voyage
A 16 minute long medley of the tunes from Iotunn's wonderful "Access All Worlds" album from last year. This medley is all acoustic and instrumental (except for some spoken parts), and while it's interesting to hear, it's also a bit too ... ehmmm ... unnecessary?
https://youtu.be/z8YPAniLLdk

[introclaus]

Allegaeon - Damnum
https://allegaeon.bandcamp.com/album/damnum

They let more of the jazzy influences into their melodic tech death and holy shit it's great. This album is lifting up this whole decrepit week all on its own. This is a more than worthy successor to Apoptosis. We've got a lot of albums left to come this year, but I have a hard time seeing this not making the top albums of the year list for a ton of folks.

I’m really liking this one as well as I expected I would, but not as overwhelmed as you are (yet at least) - interestingly enough I hear a bit (well, quite a lot actually) of classic Into Eternity, which is awesome as they were such an underrated prog-melodeath band when they were at their best. In general I think Allegaeon has brought in a lot of outside influences on this new album which makes it very interesting but also a bit unfocused. One minute it sounds like a specific style of prog or tech death and then the next a different style (still within the genre but …). Perhaps a bit too much of the “kitchen sink method” here?

I can see this being a valid criticism, but it's a style that meshes well with me so I'm all for it.

I've played it three times more today, and my "criticism" still stands, but it's not necessarily a negative criticism, as I really thoroughly enjoy the album. It's just very disjointed. One moment they sound like a typical tech-death band (think Obscura, Beyond Creation, ...), the next they sound like dipping into the more melo-death style of prog-death (Into Eternity, Arsis, ...), then switching over to something more "atmospheric" and "modern" within the style (Persefone, Black Crown Initiate, ...), and even throwing in plenty of other outside influences, from classical interludes, to full on power-prog (Nevermore style). The artwork (is it Travis Smith?) is really awesome and match the music, as it's almost like a Dali painting with a billion things going on, just like what's to be heard here. Great stuff fo' sho'.

[LarryD]

STAR ONE - Revel in Time
I'll admit that the first listen didn't sit well with me, but I've been through the album 5 times now and it gets better with each listen. Once again Arjen tends to drown everything in too many different vocalists, which is actually why I love the other Star One albums (only had to focus on 4 singers), and it ends up sounding like just another Ayreon disc, which is a bit of a shame. And honestly, not all the choices are that great; I'm tired of listening to Mike Mills whiny voice on every Arjen disc these days, and why on earth does Ross Jennings has to be pulled in here? He flat out sucks. I bought the 2-disc version, and there are certain songs I prefer from the bonus/alternate album because of the choice of singer. Better than last Ayreon disc for sure, but it's not as amazing as the first 2 Star One albums.
https://youtu.be/-fHN4Qceip4

It's getting hard to get amped about Arjen's releases. I feel bad for saying it, but when he didn't have the budget to be so self-indulgent he produced much better work. I'm listening to the new Star One right now and it's like...it's fine? It feels so predictable, though.

****Playing it right now and I'm digging the hell out of it ...... I agree with both of you ........ too many singers, and totally predictable, but really good in the execution of it...... with too many singers, you tend to focus on that, and start to compare them and you get away from the music side of things....... but, I think it's the best thing Arjen has done in a long time, and I am really getting into this one. Good stuff.

[Mark]

New Hammerfall might be the closest they've ever come to the Glory to the Brave sound. It even sounds closer to GttB than Legacy of Kings did. I assume they intentionally tried to get as close to that sound as possible. So it's enjoyable in the same way, but, of course it has nowhere near the same impact simply because there have been so many similar albums released between 1997 and today.

[gazinwales]

I was in my local music store on the weekend and they decided to play the new Hammerfall.
First song was pretty good, but by the third song I was remembering why I don't like them, even had a chuckle or two at some of the lyrics and cliched music.
They do absolutely zero for me, and I love power metal, just not the Hammerfall 'brand'.

[introclaus]

I'm somewhere in-between Mark and Gazinwales on the new Hammerfall.

While I don't think it sounds like "Glory to the Brave", I do agree that this (and their previous one) is the closest they've come to the first 3 albums in ... well ... since those first 3 albums! It's nice to hear them play this powerful again, and with as much youthful energy as a bunch of ~50 year olds can.

That said, I'm not overwhelmed by the full album as there are a few turds in between. Regarding the lyrics and music? Sure, it's cliche, but that's what these guys have always been about, and it's to be expected from them. Hence why it was disappointing when they were trying out new things ("Threshold" through "(r)Evolution" basically).

I'm a Hammerfall apologist to a certain extent; I enjoy them for what they are, I praise them for always delivering a wonderful live show, I salute them for what they did for the metal scene when they came out in 1997/1998, and I thank them for being awesome dudes (and singing me a birthday song at their listening party for "Renegade"), but I'm also realistic enough to admit that they aren't the technically most proficient band, admit that they are stubbornly cliche, and are just one small step away from falling into the "joke" category. But hey, that can be said about most heavy metal bands anyway.

[introclaus]

I got a few things this week, but let me start off with a rant about how certain record labels are absolutely ridiculous in the way they interact with the "new world". Today 95% of the business is done through streaming platforms (spotify, amazon music, apple music, etc.) or digital downloads (iTunes, Amazon, etc.), and some of the labels seem to have realized this, and are trying to force us into buying albums multiple times. I for one purchase a heck of a lot of music, and for some, I end up buying it both digitally, on CD, on vinyl, and sometimes even multiple versions (digipack, jewelcase, etc.) or as gifts for friends, but that's by OWN CHOICE, not because a record label is trying to force my hand.

Two releases this week ****ed my over that way;

• New Sabaton - the very first song on the album ("Sarajevo") is not on the digital version, as NB is trying to make us buy the physical copy. What the heck? It's an integral part of the album, as it bookends the album with the final track ("Versailles"), so leaving it off the album is absolutely ridiculous.

• New Knight Area - having faithfully bought all the singles leading up to the release, I was anxiously awaiting the full album and so much looking forward to hearing the entire concept album played in the correct order. Well, guess what, the band or their label decided that if you've purchased the singles, you will receive only the rest of the songs from the album, thus "saving me, the customer, money". Thanks guys, but I'll rather pay EXTRA to buy the entire album, than having an album in my collection with "holes" in it. What I have now is a 6 song album instead of the 9 there's supposed to be, and I have no way of completing it in iTunes. I'm basically screwed.

This is 2022 and labels need to get with the times, and not making it difficult for those of us who are still supporting the business and pouring lots of money into their releases. Alright, enough with the rant - at least a lot of great new stuff came out this week;

Singles:

HÄLLAS - Elusion's Gate
New single from upcoming album. Wonderful space/proto hard rock. Uriah Heep meets prog rock with hints of metal ...
https://youtu.be/w3Saty8_Wls

GAZPACHO - Winter is Never
Third single from upcoming live recording. This is an old song from their 2009 "Tick Tock" album ... one of the more Radiohead inspired songs (less Muse, lol).
https://youtu.be/UpdprvPtu5k

PORT NOIR - Deep Waters
All 3 singles so far are amazing, but this might just be the very best. I can't even begin to describe how much this music resonates with me, and how incredible I think they are. This song starts off with a crunchy guitar tremolo that reminds me of "Mother North" (Satyricon) LOL. Then it kicks over to an almost different tune that blends R'n'B, alternative rock and prog metal, but still retaining that tremolo sound far in the background. And part of the pre-chorus sounds like "Smells like Teen Spirit" (Nirvana). Such a unique blend.
https://youtu.be/5_QSTpY-ErI

Full albums:

SIN STARLETT - Solid Source of Steel
Retro heavy metal with over-the-top sing along anthems and plenty of fistpumping, headbanging and screaming attitude. Imagine Judas Priest, Manowar, Saxon and early Def Leppard all mixed together. You won't find anything new here, but it's fun as hell (oh, and the video is killer)
https://youtu.be/It5sifunHzo

KNIGHT AREA - D-Day II, The Final Chapter
Besides my complaints above, this album is brilliant from start to finish. The neo-prog album to beat this year if you ask me. Larry just needs to get on-board.
https://youtu.be/eLIdiauRjBU

SABATON - The War to End All Wars
So much fun! Really strong album. Only complaints are that "Dreadnought" is a pretty bland song to place upfront (2nd/3rd song on album depending on which version you get) and the aforementioned digital-only-release of one of the tunes. All the other tunes are great (for Sabaton), and perfect for running/working out.
https://youtu.be/Oo8H5vUKMlk

HATH - All That Was Promised
I just haven't had time enough to sit down with this ... I know it's gonna be awesome, as all 3 singles were brilliant, but this weekend had so many other releases I went through that I couldn't bring myself to just spin this without paying proper attention to it. It's going to be a complex album for sure, evidenced by the singles; progressive/technical death metal with a black metal edge, a bit of melo-death, and just lots of class. They remind me of Slugdge or early Opeth (when they were a melo-black-death band with a very proggy edge).
https://youtu.be/gygsTlKqMaY

And finally - to those who complain about the lyrical concepts of Knight Area' and Sabaton's albums, you're obviously missing the point. They aren't writing about war to "glorify" it or say that it's a great thing. This isn't some neo-nazi band who writes it from a "rallying" perspective (those obviously should be banned), no, this is frigging Sabaton and Knight Area, not some evil p-o-s. They are writing these songs for 2 reasons: (a) history: to warn people about how bad war can be and/or explain some specific events in a historical context, and (b) $$$: the shit sells, and they are musicians. It's like anyone singing about the devil or god or heavy metal or politics or horror movies or whatever ... if it sells, then obviously musicians can and will use it ... its their choice and I couldn't care less. I don't have to listen to it or buy into it if I don't like it, so if you're a snowflake that can't handle an album with lyrics about wars that happened in the past then don't buy the albums. That said, if you truly are offended, you're most likely also a millennial or gen-z from a country that's never been occupied and your point is completely invalid in my opinion. Once you've been alive for enough years to talk to people who've actually lived through it, or just have gotten some real life experience on your own, let's talk again.

[gazinwales]

Sabaton - Yes picked this up yesterday, great so far, been a fan for a long time and I love their lyrics.
As I am career Military and currently serving, some of those songs hit really hard.
As Claus said they are telling a story and I have learnt a hell of a lot about history from listening to them.

NB do themselves no favours with dumb stuff like this, all over Sabaton's FB page, complaining the song is missing from digital.
That said they have done quite a bit of illogical senseless stuff in the past few years, which might explain partly why all their
best staff have left and jumped over to the newly formed Atomic Fire Records.

[AllMediaReviews]

Cloud Cult - Metamorphosis
Marillion - An Hour Before It's Dark
Ty Tabor - Shades

enjoying all of these.